Being The Osmonds (2003 UK Documentary Featuring The Osmond Brothers)

This is a very interesting documentary featuring the Osmond brothers.  Marie did not participate.  The brothers talk of growing up in a family with high pressure to not only perform, but to perform perfectly.  This includes some exploration of the progression of the family entertainment business, which left the older Osmond Brothers behind, being replaced as lead singer, and in fact preventing their pursuit of a rock band career.  This was a cathartic exercise for the brothers, and let them air things maybe they would not have otherwise.  It appeared to be a healing process.  There were not only jealousies over careers, but also over women.  It appears Donny Osmond married a woman who had previously dated Jay.  The oldest performed, Alan, now has M.S. and talked of his struggles with this.  I really enjoyed this look at inside the Osmonds as they were coming back together to perform in Branson.  This was produced for BBC television.
 

Movie Night: ***North & South

Here is another movie I found when I was in a Jane Austen mood.  This presentation is also in the Victorian Era like Jane Austen.  This is not the "North and South" dealing with the Civil War.  It is a BBC movie based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell.  The major characters are played by Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage.  (If you watch BBC Robin Hood he plays Guy Grisbane)  I watched this four-part series on Netflix Instant Movies.  It was presented in 2004. 

It is different than Jane Austen movies as it is darker and has a more naturalistic flavor.  It is about a family that leaves the more agrarian lifestyle in Southern England, and moves north.  It presents the conditions of the mill workers in Northern England.  It is a very realistic period piece presenting the premature death of those working in the mills.

The story revolves around the relation between Maraget Hale, daughter of the family and John Thorton who owns a mill.  The relationship develops very much like a Jane Austen novel. 

I would recommend this movie to those who like British period drama.